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Integrity commish proposed

Luke Hendry/The Intelligencer
Coun. Mitch Panciuk speaks during a council meeting Monday at city hall in Belleville. His draft bylaw to create the role of integrity commissioner for Belleville passed first reading during the meeting.

Belleville could soon have an integrity commissioner after a councillor’s motion to create the role passed first reading.
Coun. Mitch Panciuk, during Monday’s council meeting, proposed a draft bylaw he wrote in collaboration with city clerk Matt MacDonald. Both said it borrows heavily from similar bylaws in Kingston and other municipalities.
“We’re going to demonstrate our commitment to integrity,” Panciuk said, adding it would mean a “huge step forward” in accountability.
Panciuk’s effort comes as the Ontario government works to implement Bill 68, known as Modernizing Ontario’s Municipal Legislation Act. It includes legislation to require all municipalities to use integrity commissioners.
But it also unfolds two months after Ontario Superior Court Justice Timothy Ray convicted Mayor Taso Christopher of having broken the law when he voted in favour of a road project. The project involved the purchase of land owned by the mayor.
Asked whether the local case inspired his draft bylaw, Panciuk would say only many Ontario mayors and councillors are or have been before the court in similar proceedings. He added the topic was the focus of a major discussion at the recent Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference.
When politicians break the law, Panciuk said, “It undermines the confidence in all of us.”
MacDonald said commissioners are usually solicitors or retired, experienced municipal workers.
“The process would be simple, easy and quick,” said Panciuk.
He said the city could share the services of one commissioner with another municipality or more.
Panciuk also said it could be a process similar to the work of the city’s closed-meetings investigator, who is hired on a retainer and paid hourly for service.
The councillor said it would be a simpler, cheaper option for both municipal officials and the public. Officials with questions could consult the integrity commissioner before acting. People with complaints could also contact the commissioner rather than having to proceed directly to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
“It is currently working well across the province... They’ve all understood the need to be fully transparent.”
“The time has come,” said Coun. Jackie Denyes. She said pushing through all three required readings in one meeting could mean members of the more than 30 council committees may not receive notice of the change. Some, she said, may choose not to retain their positions under a new bylaw.
Coun. Egerton Boyce said the city solicitor should also approve the draft.
“You can’t put a price on integrity,” said Coun. Mike Graham, though he questioned “the rush” to adopt the bylaw when the provincial bill has yet to receive royal assent and become law.
Panciuk accepted the resulting amendments to his motion, allowing it to proceed only through first reading and then to be vetted by the city’s solicitor and notice given to committee members.
Council approved the amended motion unanimously.
It means city staff will now create terms of reference – such as qualifications for the role – and present them to council, possibly in November, Panciuk said. The draft bylaw must also pass second and third readings.
The mayor, meanwhile, sat quietly through the discussion, apparently making notes and moving papers on his desk.
After the meeting, Christopher expressed his own approval for the use of integrity commissioners.
“It’s fully supported by all municipalities,” Christopher said.
“The municipality business has changed big-time,” he said, adding there are increasing demands upon municipalities and their officials to make decisions and handle more business.
“This is a nice guidance tool to assist everybody – elected officials, staff and the public.”
The mayor said he did not believe the motion was in response to his court case.
“Absolutely not, no. It’s been in the queue for a long time,” he said, recalling recent study groups organized by the Association of Municipalities.
“You can create as much transparency as you want, but you can always add more tools to the tool bag,” Christopher said, adding similar motions will be considered by school boards and other groups.
But would the use of an integrity commissioner have helped him with his own case?
“I mean, I couldn’t tell ya,” he said.
Christopher said the province is trying to create opportunities for everyone – elected or otherwise – to “reach out” when issues arise.
“That mechanism isn’t there right now.”
lhendry@postmedia.com